The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) teams across the south are actively preparing for the possibility of a significant response to Hurricane Dorian. The powerful storm is expected to make landfall over Labor Day weekend, with the eastern coastline of Florida directly in the projected track of the storm.
An 11-person Incident Management Team (IMT) along with five mobile kitchens and five Rapid Response Units from Texas, initially scheduled to deploy to Florida on Monday, have been placed on standby for possible deployment later in the week. Once the track of Hurricane Dorian becomes clear, and crucially, if the storm makes landfall, a decision will be made on where and when deployment will take place. The Texas IMT will be one of the first teams outside of the affected area to be activated..
“One of the strengths of The Salvation Army emergency disaster response efforts is our ability to mobilize quickly and provide effective and timely assistance to affected areas,” said Migues. “Our primary responsibility is the delivery of meals, snacks and hydration to first responders and to the communities in the path of the storm. We also help facilitate cleanup efforts, provide emotional and spiritual support and remain to support long-term recovery programs that can sometimes span several months following a large-scale event.”
The Salvation Army Florida Division currently has more than 30 mobile kitchen units and crews prepared and on standby. Salvation Army EDS teams and response vehicles in neighboring states are poised to provide additional response once the impact of Hurricane Dorian becomes clear.
The Salvation Army provides a comprehensive disaster training curriculum that includes both online courses and training events led by full-time, professional EDS staff. Trained volunteers, employees and Salvation Army officers provide the manpower to support rapidly scalable response efforts.
“The Salvation Army will be there to feed, support and pray with those who find themselves in a time of crisis after the storm, all in the name of Jesus,” said Migues.
Hurricane Dorian, now upgraded to a Category 5 Hurricane with sustained winds of 185 mph, made catastrophic landfall in the Northwest Bahamas, Sunday. The massive storm is slowly moving west and is currently predicted to skirt the east coast of Florida in the coming days. The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) units in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas continue to make preparations for a significant response effort.
“We remain in a holding pattern right now and The Salvation Army disaster response teams and units in Texas will continue to prepare for deployment,” said Alvin Migues, Emergency Disaster Services Director for The Salvation Army in Texas. “It’s something of a waiting game but if and when Hurricane Dorian makes landfall, the impact on local communities will be significant and we will be ready to help with food, hydration and emotional and spiritual support.”
The Salvation Army has approximately 76 mobile feeding units, each with the ability to serve between 500-1500 meals per day, on standby in locations spanning 10 southern states. In addition, five Incident Management Teams (IMTs), that each will potentially oversee response operations in the most affected areas, are ready to serve.
“Texas EDS units scheduled for deployment are from Plano, Bryan College Station, Austin, Lubbock, Granbury, Tyler, Freeport, San Antonio and two units from Waco. We are so grateful for the commitment and dedication of our staff and volunteers who have a passion to serve those in need, both in their own communities and beyond,” said Migues.
For more information on The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services and the developing situation regarding Hurricane Dorian response, visit: www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org
Hurricane conditions are expected within the Hurricane Warning area in Florida by late tonight or Tuesday. Hurricane conditions are possible in the Hurricane Watch area on Wednesday. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the Tropical Storm warning area today and Tuesday, and are possible in the Tropical Storm watch area by tonight.
STORM SURGE: A life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 18 to 23 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds on Grand Bahama Island. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Water levels should very slowly subside on the Abaco Islands during the day.
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…Lantana to the Mouth of the St. Mary’s River…4 to 7 ft North of Deerfield Beach to Lantana…2 to 4 ft The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the how close the center of Dorian comes to the Florida east coast, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
RAINFALL: Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall totals through late this week:
Northwestern Bahamas…12 to 24 inches, isolated 30 inches.
Coastal Carolinas…5 to 10 inches, isolated 15 inches.
Central Bahamas and the Atlantic Coast from the Florida peninsula
through Georgia…2 to 4 inches, isolated 6 inches.
This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods.
SURF: Large swells are affecting east-facing shores of the Bahamas
and the Florida east coast, and will spread northward along the
southeastern United States coast during the next few days. These
swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current
conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
TORNADOES: Isolated tornadoes are possible this afternoon into
tonight along the immediate coast of east-central Florida.
